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Characters / Between My Brother and Me

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The characters of both Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! collide as they try to fight a menace head on. However, their characteristics have changed for better or for worse.

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Tropes related to the Chosen

  • Adaptational Badass: All three of them in this fanfic.
  • Badass Adorable: A 10 year old girl, and both a 7 and 12 year old boy who are very sweet, innocent, and can kick butt at Duel Monsters.
  • Badass Boast: Each one has a specific one tailored for them.
    May: [from chapter 4, to Bandit Keith] "You'll lose to May, Pokemon Coordinator, and her deck of Dark Monsters!"
    Max: [from chapter 9, to Arkana] "And where I come from, this is called 'Hyper Beam!'note 
    Mokuba: from chapter 24, to Alister—just as he's about to be damaged from an attack of 11,000 points. "My name is Mokuba Kaiba, and I choose to be your sacrifice for Mikey! Hit me with your best shot!
  • Badass Bookworm: Max, being the Prince of Wisdom and all. Can give you facts on Pokemon and still whup you with them.
  • Badass Normal: May is seen as the most normal, seeing as Max uses magic to fight and Mokuba has a god to guide him.
  • Badass Pacifist: Mokuba in Chapter 24.
  • Dark Is Not Evil: May uses Gravekeeper's and other Dark Monsters, Max has dark sorcerers and Mokuba is currently housing the Chaos Serpent Apep inside him. but see Neutral Good for details.
  • Deadpan Snarker: Max and Mokuba hold this, but May does it if needed.
  • Determinator: They pretty much won't back down from the bad guys.
  • Little Miss Badass: May, ten years old, can make grown men chase her and she can still beat them.
  • Motif: Each Chosen has a different motif. May is about water, Max has his about stars, and Mokuba is about the Moon and light.
  • Neutral Good: They fight for the side of good, only going with the protagonists cause its their job as the "Guardians of the Pharaoh" to save the world.
  • Psychic Powers: May is an Empath, Max has some sort of Healing powers, and Mokuba channels a God's power in him.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni, Purple Oni: May's definite Red and Mokuba's Blue. Max is considered a Blue to May and a Red to Mokuba, however.
  • Reincarnation: May was a girl known as Hara, and Mokuba was Moka 5,000 years ago. We have no idea about Max though.
  • Split Personality: May and Mokuba carry this for different reasons. For Mokuba, it's because he's housing a powerful god in him. For May... It's because the Orichalcos merged with her anger and created her dark side Shadow.
  • Took a Level in Badass: May can lead men older her on a wild goose chase using Duel Monster cards, Max can stand up against duelists 3 times his age, and Mokuba stands toe-to-toe with Alister and his 50 ft Iron Giant!
  • Two Guys and a Girl: The team for the Chosen. There's no romance between them given that two of them are siblings.

     The Chosen 

May

"I have to save the Pharaoh because that's my destiny!"

The daughter of Petalburgh Gym Leader Norman, and Pokémon Coordinator, May is also given the title of 'Goddess of Joy', giving her abilities that so far amount to singing and seeing through emotions of a person's soul. As the Goddess of Joy, her weapon is a sistrum which she uses to create music. In duels, she uses two decks: One is a Gravekeeper's Deck with added Earth Monsters, the other is a special deck she calls the 'Ancient Pharaoh's Deck', consisting the spirits of people she befriended years ago. She had an ancestor in Egypt 5,000 known as Hara, who was killed at an early age. It is said that she maybe Raphael's missing 'Guardian of the Sea', but she denies it. Her special monster is Manaphy, Prince of the Sea.

Throughout the course of the story, she changes from happy girl to scarred child, then we add a VERY sadistic dark half and mix it together to form a strong but deeply damaged character.

Associated Tropes:

  • Achey Scars: Oh May... not even the best doctors can stop people from grabbing wrists and pinning her down onto the ground.
  • Action Girl: Let's make a short list of what she's done: She's used Pokémon to fight down the Swordsmen, won many successful duels and one chapter alone was dedicated in her escaping a building while only having Duel Monster Cards in her disposal...then we have the end of chapter 18...
  • All Girls Want Bad Boys: AVERTED with Raphael.
  • Amnesiac Lover: What Raphael seems to believe when she displays no 'memory' of being the Guardian of the Sea.
  • Awesome by Analysis: Her time as a Pokemon Coordinator makes her quick on her feet when it comes to strategies whether she's in a duel or not.
  • Born Lucky: The first card she used in a duel was Reasoning, and she uses it for future duels. Subverted in her draws in her duel against Arkana as it took her forever to draw a card to destroy her note  own trap card
  • Brainy Brunette: She's come a long way since Petalburgh, and is capable of dueling against tougher foes.
  • Break the Cutie: The Swordsmen's plan to do so goes like this: 1) grab her wrists and make her unable to move, 2) cut her arms up with sharp knives, 3) punch her in the ribs until they nearly crack, 4) track her down and don't stop until she's DEAD
  • Catch a Falling Star: Altaria saves May from falling to her doom at the end of chapter 17.
  • Combat Pragmatist: There's nothing that's said about using Pokemon to 1) cause distractions, 2) make quick get aways and 3) steal a Duel Monster Card that can be used to powerup a super beast.
  • Cry into Chest: She does this to Kaiba at the end of chapter 21
  • Decoy Protagonist: This is her story even though the title states otherwise.
  • The Empath: She walks into her opponent's shoes and uses it to help make them better. For some reason, it also includes the Swordsmen and Kaiba into this.
    • Which can lead into Fridge Brilliance. She's not siding over anyone; she's pretty much neutral when it comes to the protagonists and the antagonists. This is why she's able to see that Kaiba is not a total jerk; she had no bias on him.
    • However, she's not perfect. In chapter 17 she doesn't know how to help Mai with her words because she doesn't have anything else on Mai's past. Since no one told her about Mai's past—and Mai's certainly not telling—May doesn't have a complete picture on her. So unless she gets the complete picture of a person's life, May can't nor won't understand and she can't help those people.
  • Evil Counterpart: Her counterpart was made from her fear and anger!
  • Girl of My Dreams: She's this to Raphael...sort of.
  • Glass Cannon: When she uses her Gravekeeper's deck. Even if it's well structured its weakness is the use of Necrovalley, the low attack score and the majority of her monsters having the same attribute which comes back to haunt her when she duels Arkana.
  • Heroic BSoD: For a while, she couldn't do much with those scars and bruises and it gave her time to think about what's happened.
  • Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: If she's seen with either Raphael or Kaiba.
  • Improvised Weapon: Some people duel with Duel Monster cards, May uses their effects to make quick getaways.
  • Jack of All Trades: Whenever she uses her Ancient Pharaoh deck; it's pretty balanced with cards she uses for Special Summoning and retrieving.
  • Let's Get Dangerous!: A cheerful girl who loves cute things, delicious food and Pokemon Contests standing toe to toe with motorcyclists, insane people and her own dark side.
  • Magic Music: It's hinted with the card 'Song of Redemption' (though whether she knows about that particular song is unknown) and the latest chapter showed her singing to prove to Raphael that she was the Guardian of the Sea...it worked a little TOO well.
  • May–December Romance: This is one-sided on Raphael's side. Let's also remember that she is only 10, while Raphael can be in his early 20's at this point.
  • Messianic Archetype: Her title is 'Goddess of Joy' and the focus has been shifted on how she will forgive the people who hurt her.
  • Mirror Character: Even though she denies she's like Mai, they are pretty similar. First, they're shown to be quite haughty and over confident. Second, they've both received punishment and trauma with no one to help them. However, May was able to realize what she was doing and took control of the darkness inside her.
  • Mythology Gag: For this story, she's in Sapphire's outfit from {Pokemon Special}}.
  • No Escape but Down: The way May escapes Paradius...explosion and wounds included.
  • Red Baron: She's known as the Goddess of Joy; it seems harmless but it doesn't make her less of a badass when she duels.
  • Scars Are Forever: Inverted, all the physical wounds will heal, but every memory has scarred her for life.
  • Take a Third Option: Chapter 17 gives her this: Either hand over the item that the Swordsmen are looking for, or don't and let her brother suffer what she has suffered. Her option? Summon the Winged Dragon of Ra to destroy them/knock them to their senses. But then that failed...
  • Trauma Conga Line: It starts at chapter 17. First, she's kidnapped by Raphael, then tries to escape, gets beaten to death, falls down from a huge explosion, gets beaten and slammed into a wall, collapses from exhaustion in a desert, gets tracked by the same people ON A PLANE, beat up some more before she snaps...and that is in between the span of about 3-5 chapters.
    • And it picks up from chapter 22. She almost saw a friend of her die from missiles, dueled her own deck that was corrupted by the Orichalcos, had to run away from her friends and got captured by Raphael and has learned the hard way that she's pretty much the only Chosen out of the three that stands a chance to fight Dartz.
  • Unstoppable Rage: First hinted at in Chapter 18 note , but then we see it full force in Chapter 21. Things get worse....

Max

"My family...is always with me."

The younger brother of May, Max is the youngest of the three chosen. His title, "Prince of Wisdom" lets him have knowledge of Duel Monsters, while his weapon, a star topped wand, lets him shoot a flurry a stars at his opponent. He wields two decks: A Spell Counter deck and a Stage Magician's Deck given to him by Arkana's Dark Magician. His special monster is Jirachi, Wish Maker.

His character comes off as excited but recent events made him more worried and frightened about the aspects of the Great Leviathan's summoning. However, this doesn't stop him from dueling, or fighting for his friends.

As of chapter 27, his soul has been taken by the Orichalcos, but has returned in the next chapter...not as his real self though.

Associated Tropes:

  • Brainwashed and Crazy: He's returned and now corrupted by the Orichalcos.
  • Chekhov's Gun: The special tag he got from Norman? It's a wish tag of some sorts and lets Kaiba become the Regent of Wisdom when Max lost his soul to the Orichalcos.
  • Child Mage: While the Chosen are all adversed with Magic, he's the one specifically designed to be magic inclined, having a deck with a majority of spellcasters.
  • Energy Weapon: Jirachi and two words: Doom Desire. It's so bright that when he used it to defeat Arkana, everyone who was/wasn't watching had to cover their eyes!
  • Friend to All Living Things: He has three different types of Pokemon: a ghost (Shuppet/ Banette), a savage sloth (Vigoroth) and a harbinger of disaster (Absol).
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Loses his duel to Mai and sacrifices himself to save the world.
  • Light 'em Up: He uses the power of the stars to fight. Also most of his monsters are Light Attribute.
  • Lucky Seven: Seven years old, seven stars in his crown and his partner Jirachi is known to wake up 7 days every 1,000 years.
  • Magic Wand: His star tipped wand.
  • Mythology Gag: Jirachi in Duel Monster form has references to Pokemon; for example the Ritual Magic card is known as 'Millennium Comet', its defense is at 1000 and is at level 7 (referencing that it wakes up for 7 days once a Millennium), it has three abilities (referencing that it can grant up to three wishes in Pokemon Special) and its special ability is Doom Desire.
  • Shout-Out: His seven star crown might be a reference to Super Mario RPG with its seven stars.
    • Also, many of his magicians are based on many fictional and real-life Magicians. One of the most notable is Sorcerer's Assitant-Miey, which is a little girl version of Mickey Mouse from Sorcerer's Apprentice

Mokuba Kaiba

"I am who I choose to be, and I choose to be Mokuba Kaiba, the reincarnation of Moka, the Vessel of Khonsu and the Defender of the King!"

The younger brother of famous CEO Seto Kaiba, Mokuba is the last to gain his powers and title 'Defender of the King'. He uses a curved blade as a weapon which is somehow powered by his emotions. He is also a Vessel (a person who hosts spirits) of the Moon God Khonsu as his ancestor before him. His deck is known as the Celestial Spirits, using monsters based on constellations to fight. He sees May and Max not only as his friends, but also family.

His character has changed into a person to end useless fighting with a hint of lots of guilt in his mind, but it doesn't stop him from doing amazing stuff and trying to sacrifice himself to save his friends and family.

Associated Tropes:

  • A Day in the Limelight: Chapter 24 lampshades it with the title note  but doesn't hinder the fact that it's his time to shine.
  • Battle Aura: Sometimes glows white when fused with Khonsu.
  • Deal with the Devil: He accepted Atem's deal to gain Chaos Magic and now is a Vessel to Apep.
  • Evil Costume Switch: He started with a white tunic when he was with Khonsu. Then when Khonsu was gone he is now Apep's vessel and wears a black tunic instead.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: He gets better
  • It's All My Fault: Blames himself for May's condition.
  • Mind-Control Eyes: Can be confused with Prophet Eyes when Khonsu takes control but he gains these When fused with Apep.
  • My Name Is Inigo Montoya: Says this to Alister just as he's about to be blasted into smithereens
    Mokuba: (to Alister) My name is Mokuba and I choose to be your sacrifice for your brother, Alister! Hit me with your best shot!
  • Prophet Eyes: Whenever he gets pissed off, Khonsu takes control and his eyes glow white.
  • Senseless Sacrifice: He tried to delay Raphael's attack on May by using his Duel Monsters, but Raphael took their souls, thus giving the Great Leviathan more power. Then Khonsu goes and it only makes it WORSE.
  • Sharing a Body: Khonsu houses inside Mokuba's soul although he sometimes returns to his Duel Monster card when not needed. Justified as Khonsu states that most of his powers have been sealed off.
    • With Khonsu sacrificed in chapter 27, Mokuba's now made a deal with Apep.
  • Soul Power: When he combines with Khonsu his powers improve.

Tropes Associated with Paradius

  • Brainwashed and Crazy: Any Orichalcos Duelist who lost their soul returns this way.
  • Curb-Stomp Battle: They each give their own versions. Examples are:
    • Raphael: Guardian Eatos absorbing monsters from the opponent's graveyard to decimate them.
    • Valon: Using his Armor Cards' effects to inflict damage.
    • Alister: Using Iron Giant and Limiter Removal to fire missiles into the heart of his opponent.
    • Mai: Harpie Lady Phoenix Formation with six Harpie Ladies
    • Arkana: Either using Dark Eradicator Warlock Or if he's using May's deck, with Apep, Serpent of Chaos
  • Mind-Control Eyes: A sign that an Orichalcos Duelist has returned? Their eyes are Orichalcos green.
  • Redemption Equals Death: Once they're given a good talking, those corrupted by the Orichalcos will ask for the duelist they're facing to finish them. Then, their souls will be taken away, but they're redeemed...sort of.

     Paradius 

Raphael

"You're my Guardian of the Sea...You mean everything to me..."

The leader of the Orichalcos Swordsmen and the most loyal to Dartz. While he still leads his loyalty to the Guardians, he also is having conflict with memories unknown to him 5,000 years ago. All he knows is that there was the "Guardian of the Sea", and that her affections were for the Pharaoh and not him. These memories now fuel him to take May for answers (no matter how many times she denies it, he won't believe her) by any means necessary. This has caused a lot of tension between him and the other Swordsmen, as they don't share his point of view about his savior.

While he still keeps his honorable traits, he's also stepped into very deep horizons with this relationship he's trying to develop.

Associated Tropes:

Alister

"What made you think that you had a chance against me in the first place? If you can't even defeat me, then there's even less of a chance for you to defeat Master Dartz."

What started off as a man who wants revenge on the CEO of Kaiba Corp. changes into a man of intense violence. He won't stop in the demise of Seto Kaiba; he'll go after children to satiate his own hunger. As if that wasn't bad enough, it's not that he's going after them, it's the way he decides to destroy them.

With this we keep a rather stable bad guy into an utter beast who doesn't mind destroying his opponents with Duel Monster Superweapons.

Associated Tropes:

  • Cooldown Hug: Given this by the spirit of Mokuba's ancestor who also pats him on the head for good measure.
  • For the Evulz: When you compare him to Valon and Raphael, he really doesn't have any other motive to beat May up between getting the Winged Dragon Ra, she being a nuisance, and rather cause she needed to be taught a lesson on messing with them.
  • Irony: Considering the fact that he's supposed to bring peace to the world, it's somewhat ironic that he lost the duel in chapter 24 with two cards from both him and his opponent of contrasting viewpoints.
    • To explain, Alister has a super monster powered up even more that he decides to attack directly; what he didn't expect was Mokuba pulling out a card that represented what he wanted to bring: Peace. Then Mokuba attacks him directly with a monster that doesn't attack him, but rather hugs him.
  • Karmic Death: Subverted on the death part. He sees an illusion of Shadow killing his own brother before being stabbed with her Fear Dagger. Why is it karma? Well, what did he specifically state to May when he was attacking her?
  • There Is No Kill Like Overkill: to sum it up: Iron Giant + Limiter Removal + Atomic Missile Barrage = OVERKILL
  • Would Hurt a Child: If May wasn't enough, he wouldn't mind hurting her brother and chapter 24 gave him his duel with Mokuba.

Valon

"Have you actually suffered like any of us?"

The third of the Swordsmen, Valon's role hardly changed...until chapter 17 came about. Now he only cares in getting the head of the person who took away the person he loved, and doesn't care how he pummels them...he'll get there and he'll do something about it.

He's lost most of his love to fight and now would rather destroy the person who made his life miserable.

Associated Tropes:

  • Butt-Monkey: Only in chapter 17; he got the more humiliating ends of the stick when May escaped from him. The first time he tried to fight her, May used a Trap Card to escape. The second time? She used a magic card and a monster...and both times dealt with explosions!
  • Curb-Stomp Battle: He did at least 90% of the torture to May. He basically used his armor as boxing gloves to punch her, crack her ribs and made her bleed. Then he's later shown kicking her in the ribs, choking her and slamming her to a wall!
  • Demoted to Extra: Despite having a HUGE role in chapters 17 and 18, he didn't get a lot of screen time than Raphael or Alister. This is ironic since he actually had more development than Alister in the original series.
  • Kick the Dog: Wanna figure out how much of a jerk he's become? He uses the Orichalcos when he duels Rebecca and Duke and seals them away!
  • Morality Pet: Mai was pretty much keeping him from beating up little children and nearly killing them.
  • Revenge Before Reason: His whole attitude after Mai lost her soul to the Orichalcos.
  • Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: He is shown to have a fear of fire in this version; which goes into Fridge Horror when you realize that he's been left in the desert while his mind is replying scenes of his worst fears.

Mai Valentine

"You don't control my life, I do."

The only female member of Paradius, Mai has barely changed from her original goals. This also brings in factor for May, cause she has no idea what's been bugging her. Mai also has hatred for anyone comparing her to the Coordinator specifically if it involves her loss to the younger girl. She doesn't reappear until episode 26, where she duels Max and wins.

Associated Tropes:

  • Cat Fight: The center of chapter 17, Wrath of a Goddess.
  • Hoist by His Own Petard: She uses Harpie Lady Phoenix Formation to destroy her opponent's monsters; expect her shock when May uses a monster to take away her Harpies THEN destroy all the cards on her side of the field and leave her empty. Ironically, instead of losing lifepoints, she gains them...but she loses them to Mai either way.
  • Kick the Dog: Her duel against Max was pretty much a middle finger to May for her loss.

Arkana

"I hope you're ready, the curtain's about to fall on your dueling career!"

Haven't been seen since Battle City, Arkana returns to retrieve his beloved Katherine just like before. While his style of dueling hasn't changed when first seen He steals May's deck and uses it against her. However, he is defeated all the same.

Associated Tropes:

  • Kick the Dog: His duel against Max; especially when he uses Dark Eradicator Warlock to attack.
  • Let's Get Dangerous!: Becomes a MAJOR threat to May when he starts using her deck.
  • Oh, Crap!: When he finds out how strong Jirachi is.
  • Would Hurt a Child: His first opponent is Max, a 7 year old kid, and he doesn't mind at all.

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